Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-03-26

THE BUILDING SEASON.
Prospects for the Year n Viewed BY
Builders and Architects.
NO LABOR TROUBLES RxPRcfED-wHAT THE PR1r-
DENT OF TIE FEDERATION OF LABOR sAYs-FALks
WITH AACHnEC1 AND BuILDKRs-PRxPAR1N0 FOE
BUSY YHAR.
Architects and builders are busy Just now max
Ing plans or figuring on estimates for new build
1ngs Already work has been begun on many
structureA As rule the builders and architects
look forward to busy season. Though work has
been delayed by unfavorable weather, the season
Is now fairly opened There expectation on the
part either OF employers or OF the workingmens
organization OF any labor troubles such as embar-
raised building operations last year. Mr. Tnos. S.
Denham, president OF the Federation OF Labor and
also chairman Of the executive committee Of
Knights OF Labor, said to a STAR reporter. when
asked as to the prospects: "Men who have money
to invest in building can rest assured that there
result OF the arbitration last year. We did not get
quite what we wanted then. We asked for eight
arbitrate the differences between men and bosses,
detded upon nine hours. and we abide by that de-
cision. II the bosses vii! employ only union men
there Will be no trouble, for II there any differ
ences the men willing to submit to arbitration.
so far as the men are Concerned, this will be q
QCdCClu 0cltoOu 6ltu tucI6 Will Oo no StI1kcs"
MINOR QuEsTIoNS TO BE SETTLED.
There are one or two questions that win proba-
bly, arise for settlement between the bosses and
the men. The stonecutters have already been no
titled by their employers that after April 1st the
employers will expect them to work nine hours a
hour and work eight hours a day under the terms
nxed by arbitration last year. There is differ
snce Of opinion as to whether under the ar6itra
or only during the winter months. What's
ever the result is there will be no addition to the
vi af s rate ns Of
making move to secure for themselves Iull pay
for Saturday, on which day they work only eight
Mr.. Denham, when asked about these matters,
said that the WOrklngmen anticipated no trouble.
As 70 the stonecutterS he said he did not think
In an attempt to enforce the eight-hour rule. To
have one craft working eight hours, he said, was
serious Inconvenience to other crafts at work on
the Dulld1ng, as 1t often caused delays.
THE RULING RATES OF WAGES.
The nine-hour rule will prevail during the sea-
son, and the scale Of wages remain the same as
last year. The Union rates of various crafts are
as follows: Carpenters, s. per day; painters, s.
per day; stOnecutters, 40 cents per hour; brick
layers - day, or 80 cents an hour, and plumb
ers, $3.50 per day.
AT THE BUILDING INSPECTORS OFFICE.
eyes, the building season has opened and in q
PCtty ANOAy way, Sd1u DullulIS 4uSpCCCOI
Entwisle in reply to an inquiry by STAR reporter
1--WE are having SO many applications for permits
to build that we've about had 70 stop working on
the District schools My ofrice is crowded ali the
season indicate that it will be much more pros
porous than last season. Then, tOO builders are
putting up better class of buildings than they
did last year. SO far as can hear, builders don't
apprehend any difficulties with the labor unions.
have heard, however, that hricklayerS cOntem-
plate asking for ve dollars for nine hours work,
instead of fOur.alO.a-haf which they
Certainty
Talks With the Architects.
COL. ROBERT l. FLEMING,
who Is now engaged in experimenting the cree
ton Of the Safe Deposit building at the corner Of
New York avenue and 10Th street, Mrs. Ward
Lannon's residence, on Columbia Heights, and
other buildings said that he thought that the
building operations would not be as extensive this
year as last.
"Last year was a rather unusual year," he
continued, 'and there were great many houses
built, especially OF the small class. The real
and 1 think that they rather overdid 1t. Then.
again, the smaller investors have been putting
@ us ma IN the
vested In small houses. There is, however, going
to be considerable building done here this season,
large and will cost more than is usually put into
the average run OF houses that are built during
season. Large and expensive houses will be The
rule this year. and it will be only another 1ndica-
ton OF the fact that's great many people OF means
are coming here and building homes for their per-
manent residence.
Mr. 4. r. SCHNEIDER,
VINO says that he has more work on hand now
than any previous year since he has been in bust
ness was found at hts of1ce looking at cut in the
american architect of the new hotel which he is
building at Forest Glen. Judging from my own
active one in building. I have now over forty
houses either In course OF erection or to be begun
as soon as the plans are ready. There Is one thing
that is the character of houses to be erected are
what may be regarded OF a superior kind. Houses
stead OF the exception as heretofore. Large ex-
pensive houses WILL have no doubt, be the feature
Of the season."
porNDExTER co.
have under way the large addition to the Soldiers
Home building, and have begun the Office build
ing for MI. Fendall. They have number OF houses
in course OF erection, and when The STAR man
made his appearance in the Office NJ. POindexter
looked up from his desk and gave livery cheerful
much pleased by having received a copy OF an
architects paper published In Paris giving good
sketch OF the Presidents country home, as re.
large buildings to be erected this year, both in
this city and In Richmond" he remarked. '.rhere
are several who are talking about building, and
one house now being discussed VIII cost go, 600,
and there Is still another that Will require out
lay OF COO The prospect for the season is good
yOO Cdu yuuSC VI llo tulo Utlc.
The weather has been cold and unfavorable, and
very often people who want to build don't think
about IL seriously until the weather Is settled
expect that there will be great many new houses
erected here this year. everything Is favorable
for an active season. There Is nothing TO inter-
fere as there was last year."
HARVEY l. PAGE.
The oak logs burned brightly on the hearth In
the pretty ONCE Of Mr. Harvey L. Page, and that
gentleman looked up at THE STAR man from q
sketch plan, which he was coloring for the eye of
some prospective hOuse-builder and was inclined
to think that the indications for a good season
were very promising. 81 have good deal OF work
now under way" he said, ''but great deal more
that has not as yet taken the form most pleasing
to an architect, namely, the detailed plans.
think that most OF It will assume form in brick
there Will be others as the weather grows more
favorable. am doing better class or work now,
In the sense OF q more expensive class OF work,
than for some time. Especially would this be
true, an average was taken by years OF the work
that has gone out OF my Office. There are labor
troubles to contend with this year. and in cOnSe-
Quence, none OF the uncertainty about the cost
which Is SO discouragtng to those who have build
ing In contemplation"
NR. JAMES q. HILL
had just returned from New York, where he has
been inspecting ONCE buildings before preparing
plans for the large Office building to be erected on
street. He said that he thought there would be
q very active season. "Already," he went on. ssa
number Of houses have been begun and others
are In contemplation have good class Of work
| On hand, and II the conditions remain favorable
the building season, which has not as yet fairly
K rpxnN IN <~<.rx1<~